1006 Lindsay street, Joliet, IL

year: 2014

tourers: bryan

costs: FREE

Chainsaws: 5/5

One thing we Tourers would really like to see more of is home haunts. There simply aren't enough of them, and it seems in recent years that their number has dwindled even further. Fortunately for us, there is a new home haunt on the block (no pun intended) called Wicked Walkthru.

Wicked Walkthru began in 2013 and as the name implies, it is a walkthrough on the owner's property. In this case, it's a walkthrough of the garage, which has been transformed into a haunted wonderland.

Although the garage is small, the space is used quite effectively, and showcases items that are a bit scary but also whimsical and fun at the same time. making it perfect for kids. On the walls are various animated digital paintings that change as visitors walk by, as well as several lit and moving items, including a wall of bones.

Along the walls there are various props, including a disembodied hand in a glass case, various types of lab equipment, and a few more surprises. Adding to the classic Halloween feel are huge photos of Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster. It's classic stuff, and seeing two horror icons staring at you as you pass by is an experience you don't often get in a haunt. Extra points just for that!

The second room it extremely colorful, and contains jumping spiders and moving skeletal ghosts. It's dominated by large hand painted murals of grinning faces on the walls that are so bright they almost seem 3-D. This really adds to the funhouse feel of the haunt.

Finally, the last room contains a few more spectral surprises, as well as a very cool skeleton design on the wall. I don't want to spoil everything, so feel free to go and check it out!

Overall,
Wicked Walkthru is just what Halloween should be about - it's got a
dash of the creepy, some classic and modern items, and some colorful fun
things that remind one of trick or treat days of old. It should be a
blast for kids of all ages. The handmade designs, both inside and outside, are excellent and not only add a very professional air to the entire setup, they also showcase the talent and dedication of the haunt owner.

We've very happy to add Wicked Walkthru to our list of great haunts and displays in the Joliet area, and to our list of favorite home haunts of 2014. Here's hoping Wicked Walkthru continues to thrive and grow in the years to come!.